Alentejo Offers a Wonderful Wine Trip
By Ingrid Coifman | Photos by Turismo de Portugal | Published 28/06/2019
Must see places:
Alentejo Region, a 1.5 hour drive southwest of Lisbon, has become a wine destination in Europe. Local grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, and Alicante Bouschet are the stars in charming wineries spread across Portugal’s largest region. Historic landscapes and well-preserved medieval towns of Alentejo, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, have drawn comparisons to Provence and Tuscany.
Evora
Evora is known as a “museum-city” with roots dating back to Roman times. Its Roman Temple was born in the first century.
Don’t forget to stop by the Alentejo Wine Route office for free tastings and learn about the wines of the region. Advanced booking is required to tour some of the most celebrated wineries including; Cartuxa, Herdade da Malhadinha, do Esporao, dos Grous, das Servas, L’and, Vila Santa, Ravasqueira, and Quinta do Carmo.
Monsaraz
Located on the top of a hill, it’s close to the Spanish border. The top monument village was listed as one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders in 2017. While driving around, it’s worth stopping to appreciate cork oaks and olive trees along the way.
Rota Vicentina
It’s a network of trails totalling 400 km in walking distance through rural paths, villages, hills and rivers. Visitors prefer to escape the intense summer heat and visit Rota from September to June. The trails are divided into three parts: the Historical Way, the Fishermen’s Trail and the Circular Routes.
On the western coastline of Alentejo, it is possible to enjoy empty beaches during certain times of the year.